Thanks to everyone for the information and suggestions. I'll be printing them all out so I can check back in the future...

> BE sure to check the 25amp blade fuse located in the engine

> compartment.

This was just replaced for the second time. Seems that this is a favorite 'cheap insurance' replacement -- but how many times do I need a new one?

> Re: the ignition wires. I had a missing bucking problem on my 87 that

> I could not figure out - I went so far as to replace the Hall Sensor

> in the distributor. But the problem turned out to be a bad ignition

> wire...even though the set was new, just a few months old. I found it

> by doing what Don Foster reccommended- a midnight viewing. You might

> try this to eliminate a short it the ignition system. In the dark of

> night or in a dark place while the car is acting poorly. open the

> hood and (it needs to be very dark) look at the engine. any

> electrical "leaks" will be seen as blue flashes. On mine I

> saw blue arcing along the bad sparkplug wire. If the Hall sensor in

> the distributor is arcing you should see blue around the distributor.

That is a great trick! I'll try that in a few hours. New ignition wires were just fitted in September, replacing a set that had been installed in Dec, '99. I don't think this is a problem, but the ignition coil does look old... Could a problem coil cause arcing? I'm a little suspicious of the electrical system since the engine wiring harness shorted out in April...

Thanks again!

Ron Gonzalez